Recently I watched the latest edition of the Ed Pierce videos and they were using an interesting U shaped reflector under the eyes that they called the Eyelighter.
It costs $480 from JL Originals here. http://www.jloriginals.com/Catalog-Eyelighter.html
Because I am by nature kinda cheep, I figured I would DIY one and have gotten fairly good results with some flexible white plastic sheeting from Tap Plastics, with a couple silver cards thown on the top. But I would like to get a little better results and am wondering if someone who has one, can describe the reflective material on the top of the unit.
Thanks in advance,
Robin
Edited by bourbonnais on May 27, 2008 at 10:20 PM GMT
A reflector under the face - a piece of foamcore, a white sheet on the posing table, a Lastolite on an arm - is a standard portrait studio thing since the beginning of time. It bounces a little light into the eye sockets. I have no clue why anyone would pay $480 for that thing.
It is a little different then throwing a reflector on the floor, having the subject hold one in their lap, or even a tri-fold. All of them bounce some light up into the face to lighten the eye sockets. What I like about the eyelighter is the upturned crescent moon catch light that it also adds to the bottom of the eyes.
I also didn't want to pay $480, hence my trying to DIY.
It's a gimmick targeting insecure photographers. Not trying to be a snot but seriously - foamcore, Lastolite tri-fold, DIY with foamcore and aluminum foil. Anything that reflects in the eyes will work. From their description they use diamondplate. Gawd I'd hate to drag that thing around...
Regards,
Jon
the best way to make money in photography is by selling crap to photographers, i will be the first one to admit i buy too much stuff
any reflector that cost more then 20$ is a great income to the seller but a bad deal to the buyer
+1 on what everyone else has said about over priced crap. This is absolutely NO different than using some form of bounce light. Heck if you're outdoors on sand you will get a good reflection into the eyes too.
It's surely not worth anything over $10 foamcore or a sheet just to get a certain shaped reflection in the eyes.
I can't help you with the stand, but I can help you with the eyelighter. I get 4 x 8 sheets of Coroplast from a sign supplier for 11 bucks. It would work quite well. It's light, bendable and even rollable. You can cut it with a utility knife.
Larry Peters is the guy who builds these. Who I think is one of the great senior photographers. http://www.petersphotography.com/Home.html
I bought one of these for $480 after trying to make one myself. Mine came out alright but not close to his. It's not just the materials used but the angles and way to light with it. It's not made of diamondplate but does have 12 guage steel supporting the reflector. It's lightweight and rolls nicely around the studio.
I have made more money from this one "overpriced piece of crap" as someone called it then anything else in my studio. I use it in every senior session and also a lot of b&w business portraits.
Greg Norry wrote:
Larry Peters is the guy who builds these. Who I think is one of the great senior photographers. http://www.petersphotography.com/Home.html
I bought one of these for $480 after trying to make one myself. Mine came out alright but not close to his. It's not just the materials used but the angles and way to light with it. It's not made of diamondplate but does have 12 guage steel supporting the reflector. It's lightweight and rolls nicely around the studio.
I have made more money from this one "overpriced piece of crap" as someone called it then anything else in my studio. I use it in every senior session and also a lot of b&w business portraits. ...Show more →
Peters studio is right down the road from where I work... I pass it every day. While I don't always care for most of his work he's a major player in the senior market in this area, and a marketing genius....
